Darien Arts Center to get all jazzed up

Published 11:05 am, Saturday, June 7, 2014

"Get Jazzed!," an evening of music to celebrate the songs of Alan Menken, will feature Joel A. Martin's Jazzical Trio and vocals by Liz Callaway.

The Darien Arts Center fundraiser will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at the DAC Weatherstone Studio, 2 Renshaw Road.

The event will include cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction.

Martin, a pianist, composer and producer, is the creator and trademark owner of "jazzical," a marriage of classical and jazz. He has performed his jazzical compositions around the world and recently released his seventh CD, "Jazzical Meets Menken," a tribute to the composer and pianist.

Menken has won eight Academy Awards, including for best song and best score for four Disney animated movies, and has earned 19 Academy Award nominations, a Tony, 11 Grammy Awards and seven Golden Globes.

Callaway, a Tony nominee and an Emmy Award-winning actress, singer and recording artist, received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in "Baby," and for five years won acclaim as Grizabella in "Cats." She has also starred in the original casts of "Miss Saigon," "The Three Musketeers" and "The Look of Love." She recently collaborated with Martin on "Jazzical Meets Menken."

"Get Jazzed!" is the only fundraiser in 2014 for the DAC, which is supported by private donations, grants, tuition fees and ticket sales.